Washing machine



Oct 1 c. o. MARSHALL. JR.. El Ai; I 2,176,220

WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, 1957 6% jlaxsk a!!! J): 1 7: i Danazke I I I 15535,

I Patented Oct. 17, 1939 PATENT. OFFICE 2,176,220.- wnsnmc. MACHINE I Oliarles 0. Marshall, Jr., Chicago, 111., and Aaron A. Loweke, Detroit, Mich, assignors to Bendix Home Appliances, Inc. poration of Delaware I Detroit, Mich, a col-'- Application January 11, 1937, Serial No. 119,924" m. .(Ol. 68--18;4)-

The present invention relates to improvements in a washing machine of the type inwhich the desired scrubbing of textiles is accomplished by propelling them by liquid currents rather than by a mechanical agitator.

' The agitator type of washing machine, containing a central post with radial blades that oscillate about a vertical axis, has certain disadvantages, among which may be mentioned the m excessive wear of textiles caused by the agitator, and the non-uniformity ofthe scrubbing action in the washing of a load of; ordinary size, caused by the slowness with which the textiles are moved about and mixed with one another in the tub.

Each of the articles inr'the tub'of an agitator machineis scrubbed violently at intervals instead of being subjected to a more gentle-and continuous scrubbing as in machines of the type to which this invention relates. The latter type of scrubbing removes soil from the textiles with less wear and fraying than the scrubbingthat occurs inan agitator machine.

The primary object of theipresent invention is to provide a new and improved washing machine of the above described liquid-current typc.. H Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of the machine whereby it may be built and assembled more economically, as well as readily disassembled in case repairing or cleaning thereof is necessary after use by the purchaser.

v A more specific object of this invention is to provide the machine with means for both withdrawing the liquid and injecting it back intothe a washing chamber centrally thereof whereby the liquid withdrawing, injecting and directing means may be constructed as a single unit that may be readily removed from the machine whenever desired. I

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of an embodiment thereof.

The single figure of the drawing is a vertical section of a washing machine embodying the in- 45 vention. In the illustrated device a substantially circular tub ll adapted to contain soap suds or other liquid detergent is mounted upon and suitably secured to an annular inturned flange [2 formed 50 at the upper edge of an upright cylindrical supporting shell l3. To facilitate movement of the machine, the shell I3 is mounted upon casters H. The tub H is formed somewhat in the shape of an open ended oblate-spheroid in order better I to secure proper circulation of liquid therein.

This construction is obtained by curving inwardly the top and bottom portions l5 and lfi respectively, of the tub.

The uppermost end of the tub is provided with an upturned peripheral flange ll defining an openingadapted to be closed by a cover l8 during the-washing process. The inner end of the lower curved portion I6, is provided with a downwardly andinwardly extending peripheral shoulder l9 defining an opening, having a lesser diameter than the upper opening for a reason that will ap- Pear hereinafter.

An annular washing chamber is obtained by closing the lower-opening by a circular bottom plate and mounting a centrally located hollow upright post 21 within the tub. The post is constructed with an upper outwardly flared portion 22 provided with perforations 23 and a closed top 24 extending substantially to the upper level of liquidcontained within the chamber. The post 2| is supported upon the bottom plate in spacedrelation thereto by a plurality of liquid flow directing vanes 25 (only two of which are shown) secured, asby welding 26, to a sleeve 21 suitably secured, as by' screws 28, to the post and farmed with an outwardly extending reverse flange.

The vanes are prevented from rotating by a pair of lugs or projections 28 formed on the bottom plate and by a frusto-conical deflecting plate 30 surrounding but not fastened to the vanes.

The deflecting plate is provided with an upwardly extending peripheral flange 3| defining with the sleeve 21 an annular outlet 32 through vwhich liquid is injected into the washing chamber tangentially to the wall formed by post 2|, thereby to create rotary circulation of the liquid -in a verticalplane within the vessel. The deflecting plate'is also formed with a horizontal peripheral flange 33 adapted to rest on a downwardly and outwardly extending peripheralshoulder 34 formed'on the bottom plate 20 whereby both plates may be secured to shoulder l8 by liquid withdrawn from the chamber through perforations l3 flows directly to the impeller and is forced by the latter through the annular outlet 32. shaft 31 driven by a motor 38 suitably connected thereto by coupling means 39. Leakage of fluid The impeller is removably mounted upon a along the motor shaft is prevented by suitable sealing means 40.

The motor is mounted upon four radially extending brackets 4| whose inner ends. are bolted to lateral supporting flanges 42 formed on a pair of semi-circular bands 43 adapted to support the motor when the bolts are tightened. The motor is supplied with energy" through a conductor 44 and is easily accessible from outside the cylindrical'shell 13 through a door or the like 45 formed thereon.

The liquid within the washing chamber may be drained through a conduit 46 provided with a valve 41 manually operable by a handle extending outside the casing and leading to a drain opening 48 formed at the bottom of the tub. Liquidcontained within the impeller chamber is drained therefrom through small sized openings 49 on the lower part of the deflector plate 30 providingv communication between the impeller chamber and the washing chamber, but not interiering with the washing action. I

To facilitate scrubbing of the textiles as they are carried along by liquid currents within the vessel, ribs 50 and 5| are provided on the lateral walls of the tub i land post 2 I.

In operation the tub I I is filled with soap suds and textiles to approximately the level indicated and the motor 38 supplied with energy thereby to rotate impeller 36. The latter, which is sup- I plied with liquid withdrawn from the vessel through perforations 23 and the hollow post 2|, injects water into the washing chamber through the annular outlet 32 surrounding and concentric with respect to the post. I

The discharge of liquid by the impeller creates a primary and secondary circulation of liquid within the machine theprima'ry circulation being within the washing chamber and circular in planes lying on the axis of the annular chamber, as indicated by the solid'arrdws, and the sec-' ondary circulation being one, from-the impeller into the chamber and thence back to the impeller through perforations '23 and the hollow post.

The primary circulation, as indicated by the arrows, is through outlet 3-2 upward along the sidesof the post-2|, upward and outward along the-flared portion of the post, radially outward at a level above the bottom of the chamber, downward along the sides of the chamber and thence radiallyinward toward th'epos't and again upward along the post. The primary flow of liquid is such that the textn'es within the vesse1 are conunuouuy circulated in the vessel and gently scrubbed by the liquid currents therein; textiles are prevented from clogging the perforations 23 by the force of the liquid stream issuing from the annular outlet 32' and are thus kept in continuous circulation;

' 'In case it is desirable-to either cleanse or repair the-tuber other parts of the machine, the motor 38, fluid flow directing vanes 25, and bentral-post 2|, all of which are located centrally of the tub, may be removed as a single unit through the upper opening of the tub; The bolts securing the motor to the supporting bands 43 surround- .themotor may be unloosened through door 45 and-the, bottom plate and annular deflecting plate may beunfastened by loosening the screw headed bolts 35, which are accessible through the ,top. After so loosening the bolts, the post, fluid flow directing vanes, 'and motor may be removed as a single unit, 'since, as previously des'cribed, .pl'ates 'fll and 30' are smaller in diameter than the to'pd nmg,

In case it is desired only to remove the post and. vanes, then bolts 35 alone are loosened and thepost, directing vanes 25 and the annular plate 30' where it is readily accessible.

The post alone may be removed byloosening of screws 28 by means of whichit is attached to the sleeve 21.

The above described embodiment of the invention may be modified and various modifications embodying the substance of the invention may be devised to meet various requirements.

We claim:

1. In a washing machine, in combination, a tub, a liquid-circulating device having a defiector cooperating therewith and directing an annular flow of liquid upwardly of the tub substantially at its center and means arranged to direct liquid therein outwardly across the top of the tub to create a circulation of liquid in opposite vertical directions at the center and side walls of said tub and radially at the bottom and at a higher level, and means located substantially centrally of said tub adjacent the top thereof for withdrawing liquid from the top of the tub and directing it to said circulating device.

' '2. I'nia washing machine, in combination, a tub, a central vertical hollow post in said tub, means at the bottom of the tub through which liquid may be injected into said tub vertically upward'in an annular new about said post to create therein a circulation of liquid in opposite vertical -level, and' liquid circulating means for forcibly injecting liquid into said tub through said first means. said post being formed with an opening in its upper portion only continuously to supply said circulating means with liquid from a point near the upper level of liquid in said tub.

3. In a washing" machine, inv combination, a vessel'adapt'ed to contain liquid, a hollow upright post located centrally of said vessel and having a perforated outwardly-flaring portion at its upper end,-said'vessel andpost defining a substantially annular washing chamber, an impeller below said post receiving liquid fromwithin said post, and meansjcoop'erating with the lower part of said post todefine an upwardly-directed annula'foutlet for said impeller for returning the lib said'chamber in an annular stream around saidpo'st, wh'er'eby there is created in said machine a rimar and secondary circulation of liquid, the primary circulation consisting in the flow of liquid upward along th'e' sides of the'post, upward and outward along the flared portion thereof,

radially mztward to the sides of said chamber,

downward to the bottom, radially inward and thence upward again, and the secondary circulation consisting in the flow of liquid upward along the sides of the post, upward and outward along the flared portion and through said perforations into said hollow post, downward through the post to the fluid circulating means, and thence upward again along said post.

5'. In a washing machine, in combination, a vessel adapted to contain liquid, means through which liquid may be injected into said vessel in an annular flow directed vertically upwardly to create a circulation of liquid in opposite vertical directions at the center and side walls of said vessel and radially at the bottom and at a higher level, liquid circulating means located substantially centrally of said vessel for injecting fluid into said vessel through said last mentioned means, and means also located substantially centrally of said vessel adjacent the top thereof for withdrawing liquid from the upper part of said vessel and directing it downwardly within said upwardly-directed annular flow and supplying it to said circulating means, said two last mentioned means being constructed as a unit and removably mounted upon said vessel.

CHARLES O. MARSHALL, JR.

AARON A. LOWEKE. 

